Two Hundred and fifty Copies of this Work have
been Printed on Hand-made Paper for Private
Circulation Only among Members of the
Brovan Society, and Twenty-five for the
Editors. None of these Copies is
for Sale. The Society Pledges
itself Never to Reprint nor to
Re-issue in any form. Of
the Brovan Society’s
Issue, this Copy
is Number:
ANTHOLOGICA RARISSIMA.VOLUME ONE:
THE WAY OF A VIRGIN.
Anthologica Rarissima:
Being Excerpts from Rare, Curious and Diverting
Books, some now for the First Time done into
English. To which are added Copious
Explanatory Notes & Bibliographical
References of Interest to Student,
Collector and Psychologist:
the Whole Introduced,
Compiled & Edited
by L. and C.
BROVAN.
VOLUME THE FIRST:
The Way of a Virgin.
LONDON: MCMXXII. Printed for
Members of the BROVAN SOCIETY by
Private Subscription and for Private Circulation Only.
v
FOREWORD.
With the publication ofits Records, under thetitle of ANTHOLOGICA RARISSIMA,the Brovan Society, which has been formedto carry out research work into the less-knownand more curious folk-lore andliterature of Europe and the Orient, takesleave to explain its aims and aspirations.
There exists in the literature ofall countries a multitude of books notusually accorded public circulation. Yetthese books contain some of the mostlife-like and diverting material everfashioned by human pen. Their contentshave stood the test of time and taste, andto-day, though publicly ignored, they areprivately applauded. The trend of thesebooks is, in the main, erotic, or so frank asvito relegate them to the category ofimproper or “privately printed.” Somehave never come under the hands of anEnglish translator: others in such limitededitions as to make their existencenegligible so far as the average studentis concerned.
Anthologica Rarissima is a modestattempt to remedy this state of affairs. Ina series of volumes the editors will putbefore their readers the cream of what istantamount to a small library, and a librarynot often seen on the book-lover’s shelves.Herein will be found, set out in plainEnglish, curious and diverting extractsfrom some of the world’s most remarkableworks. The text will be literal andunexpurgated. Nothing of interest to thestudent of folk-lore, psychology andliterature will be omitted or glossed over,for the editors believe that a classiccastrated is a classic spoilt. The Recordsthroughout will be enriched by copiousnotes and valuable bibliographical references.
vii
So far as the compilers areaware, no similar anthology exists in theEnglish tongue. It purports to put withinreach of the student and bibliophile comprehensiveand representative excerptsfrom writers, the possession of whoseworks wo